Safety mechanism for firearms



Oct. 18, 1949. H. s. WILCOX SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS 2 'SheetsSheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1946 Qwvc/wtm HIRAM S.Wn.cox

Oct. 18, 1949. s w cox 2,484,977

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o N 2 LC grwwwfo'a HIRAM 5. WlLcox abtoomaz s Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UN I TED .S TAT-ES PATENT F F ICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in firearms and "more particularly to a safety mechariism for locking the firing pin and bolt of firearms of the Mauser type having an oscillating and reciprocating bolt action.

recent years telescopic gun sights have been used extensively and when mounted upon a Mauser firearm for the like, the telescope'must be placed close to, and #extend to the rear of the receiver to such an *extent as to place the same over the safety mechanism for proper sighting and -e'ificierrt service. With the present types of Mauser and similar firearms, to have telescopic sights operatively andsatisfactorily incorporated, free and unobstructed operation of the safety mechanism is impossible due to the telescope being in the path of movement of the operating lever :forming part of the safety mechanism.

Knowing the ffau'lts of the present types "of safety mechanisms it is the .primaryobject of the present invention 'to provide a :safety mechanism which will operate under all conditions of use.

lnnothersobiect of this invention being the provision of 2a :safety mechanism for locking both the bolt and firing pin 'of a Ifirearm, operable by a single lever swinging in a path unobstructed by a. telescope mcunted upon the receiver, :as :set forthzabove.

filhespecific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages will be apparent from .thelfollomngdescfiption of a preferred embodiment :of this invention, :and .as shown in the accompanying drawings, which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the receiver and bolt with the. safety mechanism in set position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the safety mechanism positioned for locking both the firing :pin :and the bolt taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view showing the safety mechanism einfiset position.

"Figure 4 is 'a top plan view showing the safety mechanism in off position.

Figure '5 is -a vertical sectional "view showing the safety mechanism in off position taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure "6 is a side view of the bolt head :or coupling between the bolt and the firing pin.

Figure *7 "is a plan view of said bolt head.

Figure-8 is a plan view of the safety lever.

Figure 9 -is a side View of the safety lever.

Referring to the drawings 1 indicates the reoeiver in 'which' the bolt 2 oscillates andreciprooates when operated by the lever 23. Within the bolt is the usual firing pin 4, having :at one .end

a head 5 provided with the sear-engaging lug :6, the sear being shown at 1. Located at one end of the bolt is the head 8, which .is provided at its center with an extension having an external thread 9 for engagement with a like rthread of the bolt. This extension acts as a coupling .to retain the firing pin and spring within the bolt as a unit, permitting the bolt to oscillaterand the firing pin to reciprocate.

Bug '6 of .the head f5 rides in a guide groove in the receiver which prevents the firing pin from rotating and .as the rear part of the bolt head partly surrounds and is .held against rotation relative to the firing pin, said bolt :head is held from rotating.

.All of the details :so far described are 'old and of well-known construction and need no further description.

As stated, this invention :relates specifically to improvements in safety mechanisms :for firearms, mounted within and supported by :the bolt head.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 the head 8 is shown as being provided with a longitudinal bore 10 for receiving .a sliding lock pin H, the said pin being held in an inactive position by means of a coiled spring 12, seated in a recess 13 in the pin and a recess M in the :head 8 at the base of the bore. It will .be noted that the lower part of the wall of the bore I0 is provided with an opening I5 which registers with a recess IS in the bolt, when the .bolt is in normal position after the firing pin has been cocked. On advancing the lock pin against the tension of the coiled spring it enters the recess l6 of the bolt and locks thesame against oscillation in the head 8. Due to the fact that the head is mounted in the receiver for sliding movement only, the bolt is effectively locked and-no vertical movement can be imparted to the lever3.

As is usual in firearms of this type, the firing pin head 5 provides a shoulder I! to be engaged, in this instance, by a lug l8 carried-by the head [9, of the safetyoperating lever 20. This head 19 is of ;a shape to provide a cam 2|, operable to engage the sliding locking pin ll to move the same in the bore against the tension of the coiled spring. The lever '20 is pivotally mounted between a shelf 22, forming a part of the head 8 and a :rearwardly projecting head extension 23 by means of a pivot pin 26 fitting aligned =openings in :the shelf, extension and lever. In order that the lever 20 may be mounted in the head 8 for horizontal swinging movement forwardly and backwardly, and the lug 18 may be placed in front of dzhe :shoulder .1?! when the firing pin is 3 cocked, an entrance opening 25 is provided in the side of the head 8.

On reviewing the above description in connection with the drawings, it will be readily appreciated that this invention has marked advantages over the known constructions, in simplicity of application and operation, and that a firearm having this invention incorporated therein is well adapted to receive a telescopic gun sight for the reason that full and unobstructed operations of the safety lever are permitted in any adjustment Of the sight. .It is recognized that best results can be obtained from telescopes when they are mounted close down on the receiver'and extending to the rear of said receiver. This, however, places the telescope over the present well-known type of safety mechanisms and in the path of the operating lever. By the present invention any interference with the operation of the safety mechanism, by the telescope, is prevented and the most desirable positions of the telescope, as stated, obtained.

While in the foregoing specification reference has been made to the Mauser type of firearm it is to be understood that this is simply for the purpose of imparting a clear understanding of the construction and operation of the invention of the safety device, while having it understood that the safety mechanism is adapted for employment in other recognized types of firearms, such as standard types of army Springfield and Winchester rifles in which the safety device may be similarly incorporated.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art and that minor changes in these details of construction, illustrated and described, may be resorted to as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, and means carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

2. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprisinga lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, means in said head operated by said lever for locking the bolt, and means carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of a firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

3. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, and a lug carried ,by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

4. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, means in said head operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and means carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

5. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, means in said head operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and a lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

6. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head operated by said lever for locking the bolt, and means carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

'7. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said boltand head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, and a depending lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

8. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movemerit, a sliding lock pin in said head operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and means carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

9. In a firearm including a bolt having a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, means in said head operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and a depending lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

10. In a firearm including a bolt having a body provided with a recess therein and a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt body and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head adapted to enter in said body recess operated by said lever for locking the bolt, and a lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

11. In a firearm including a bolt having a body provided with a recess therein and a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt body and head an having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head adapted to enter in said body recess operated by said lever for locking the bolt, and a depending lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

12. In a firearm including a bolt having a body provided with a recess therein and a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt body and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head adapted to enter in said recess operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and a lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

13. i In a firearm including a bolt having a body provided with a recess therein and a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt body and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a cam lever mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head adapted to enter in said recess operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, and a depending lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

14. In a firearm including a bolt having a body provided with a recess therein and a head, a firing pin slidably mounted in said bolt body and head and having an enlarged end, the combination therewith of safety mechanism for locking said bolt and firing pin, said safety mechanism comprising a lever, enlarged at one end to form a cam, mounted in said head on a vertical pivot for horizontal swinging movement, a sliding lock pin in said head adapted to enter in said recess operated by the cam on said lever for locking the bolt, spring means for returning the lock pin to normal position when released by said lever, and a depending lug carried by said lever engaging the enlarged end of the firing pin to lock the latter when in cocked position.

HIRAM S. WILCOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,619 Great Britain 1913 78,449 Germany Oct. 1, 1893 696,034 Germany Aug. 8, 1940 

